Martine McCutcheon once captured hearts on British TV and in cinemas around the world.
She looked destined for a long and financially secure career. But now, her story is taking a very different turn.
Despite past triumphs—from starring in EastEnders to stealing the show in Love Actually—the actress has once again declared bankruptcy, and friends say her once-bright financial future has been dimmed by years of overspending and dwindling work opportunities.
Lavish Spending and Lifestyle Choices
Friends close to Martine say a big part of her downfall was simply spending too much for too long.
She’s openly shared her love for luxury, whether that meant Gucci bags or high-end Ralph Lauren sheets.
Even her 2012 dream wedding in Lake Como became a financial nightmare.
It’s been claimed that she and her husband, Jack McManus, paid “thousands” to local Mafia figures just to ensure their wedding fireworks display could go ahead.
And when word got out that they had sold the wedding photos to Hello! magazine, more money was allegedly demanded.
Battling Chronic Illness and Mental Health
While financial choices played a role, Martine’s health challenges added another layer to her struggles.
In 2011, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), and in 2022, she revealed she had also been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
These conditions took a toll, both emotionally and financially, limiting her ability to work and perform.
She’s spoken candidly about being housebound, suffering from depression, and dealing with panic attacks that made her feel like she was losing her grip on reality.
A Career That Sparkled, Then Slowed
Martine shot to fame as Tiffany Mitchell on EastEnders in the ’90s, then topped the charts with her 1999 single Perfect Moment.
She even won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2002 for her role in My Fair Lady.
Then came her Hollywood moment in Love Actually, where she played Natalie opposite Hugh Grant.
Despite agents in the U.S. lining up meetings, a blockbuster film career never quite materialised.
Instead, she turned to writing—a novel in 2009 landed on the bestseller list—and later became the face of a yogurt campaign.
But high-profile acting roles started to dry up.
Her more recent appearances, like on The Masked Singer in 2021 and Celebrity Gogglebox, were flashes in the pan.
Her last significant acting job was a small role in Midsomer Murders back in 2013.
The Emotional Toll of Life Behind the Curtain
McCutcheon has often spoken about the pressure to be perfect.
During her My Fair Lady days, producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh recalled how driven—and tormented—she was by a need to perform flawlessly.
That pressure, Martine later said, contributed to the collapse of her physical and mental health.
“You think you can do it all,” she once reflected, “but all you do is hurt yourself.”
She even turned reclusive when her marriage began to deteriorate.
In one interview, she admitted: “I didn’t want to answer my phone. I’d pull over while driving because I felt this huge fear and couldn’t breathe.”
Heartbreak, Divorce, and Losing the Family Home
After 18 years together, Martine and Jack McManus called time on their relationship.
In August 2023, she confirmed their split via Instagram, saying she accepted his decision to separate.
Just three months earlier, the couple had listed their £1.5 million home in Surrey for sale.
They ended up selling it for £1.355 million—less than they’d hoped to get, and likely a loss.
She also had to part with her £25,000 engagement ring not long after their 2012 wedding, and publicly shared her devastation.
“Now even my engagement ring—the one thing that represented stability—has gone,” she once said.
Repeated Bankruptcy and Mounting Debt
This isn’t Martine’s first financial collapse. She declared bankruptcy back in 2013, reportedly owing £187,000, including £150,000 to HMRC.
After being discharged in 2014, she appeared to bounce back, buying a £1.3 million home in 2022. But cracks reappeared.
Earlier this year, a court issued another bankruptcy order—this time under her married name, Martine McManus—after a financial firm filed a petition.
Meanwhile, her business, Raven Music Ltd, was wound up by a High Court judge.
At one point, the company had £272,977 in assets, but it was carrying significant debt, including £110,000 in unpaid Corporation Tax.
Health Diagnoses and Unanswered “What Ifs”
Martine has also opened up about the emotional aftermath of her ADD diagnosis.
She confessed to feeling overwhelmed, especially after losing her younger brother LJ in 2022.
“I cried and cried and grieved… for how different life could have been if I’d known sooner,” she shared.
She also reflected on regrets—how her inability to focus on just one thing may have cost her a more stable career.
But, in the same breath, she acknowledged that this inability to conform might also be a hidden strength.
“Now I look back and think, my God, it was a blessing that I couldn’t—or didn’t want to—focus on just one thing.”
Trying to Stay Afloat, Emotionally and Physically
In recent years, Martine has also been candid about her anxiety, body image struggles, and attempts to take back control.
She reportedly lost five stone on a strict diet, dropping several dress sizes.
But even that was balanced with honesty—she admitted she still loved the occasional gin and tonic or pizza.
She also owned up to being “materialistic,” saying once: “I love nice things.
Ralph Lauren sheets are a necessity to me, not a luxury.
But I’ve known what it’s like to have nothing.”
A Star Still Loved by the Public
Despite everything, Martine remains a familiar face and a beloved figure to many fans.
Those who know her say it’s heartbreaking to see someone so talented face such challenges.
One friend summed it up: “She was well-paid and massively talented, but money doesn’t last forever if you don’t invest wisely.”
Her supporters are still hopeful that Martine can find her footing again—and perhaps even reclaim a little of the sparkle that once made her Britain’s sweetheart.